Expansion and contraction joint



Dec. 24, 1935. H. OB ON 2,025,209

EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION JOINT Filed Feb. .10, 1954 'afanWWms I Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

placed and supported upon the sub-grade of the roadway and be retained in this position during the pouring of the pavement.

It is an object of the invention to provide a joint having an exterior formation which cooperates with the adjacent ends of slab sections to form the latter and to provide a key between the joint and the slab sections thus providing means which prevents accidental removal or displacement thereof from the space to be sealed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing member comprised of a plastic or bituminous material, being of a height substantially corresponding to the thickness of a? slab, and which has means combined therewith for maintaining the plastic element in operative or sealing relation to the adjacent ends of said slab sections during the period of movement of the slabs, to prevent the infiltration of foreign materials into the joint from either the top or bottom thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a metallic seal or core for a bituminous sealing member for assisting to maintain the plastic or bituminous sealing member in proper relation to the adjacent ends of the slabs, and also to employ the plastic sealing member as a means to protect the metallic core against the destructive action of water, acids, alkalies, etc.

In addition to the above it is an object to pro-- vide the structure with means for permanently anchoring or bonding the device with the adjacent ends of the slab sections, and thereby provide means for causing unitary movement of the elements of the seal with the slab sections, and thus compensate for movement of the slab sections occasioned by either temperature change or other factors.

The invention has these and other objects, all of which will be explained in detail and more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of my invention, it being manifest that changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

The invention has In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying the various features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the structure shown in Figure 1, showing the 5 structure in operative position between adjacent ends of slab sections;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail of certain elements of the structuresshown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing same in separated relation;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail showing the elements of Figure 3 in associated relation; 7

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4, certain elements being omitted for the purpose of illustration; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view, in detail, showing a fragment of a resilient element employed in the structure.

The structure illustrated involves the use of a yieldable or resilient member or core generally 20 designated l0 and a member II, the latter being comprised of a plastic or bituminous material and forming an envelope for encasing' the core I0, which protects the core against the destructive action of moisture, and/or other agents.

A key I2 is utilized. This key performs the dual function of locking certain elements of the member H] with each other and also provides means for connecting or keying the mechanical joint to the adjacent slab sections. The core, 30 generally designated I0, provides a resilient means for maintaining the plastic or bituminous element in proper engagement with the ends of the slab sections. In the present instance, the core is of tubular formation and of a length substan- 35 tially equal to the width of the slab sections.

It will be noted that the plastic or bituminous envelope l I, encases the resilient member or core l0, and is formed to provide a base 13, whereby the device may be arranged upon the surface of 40 the sub-grade l4, and be supported thereon upon said end during the pouring of the pavement sections, designated l5 and I6.

By referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that the exterior of the plastic or bituminous envelope 45 II, has its opposite sides fashioned to provide angularly disposed surfaces l1 and 18, to thus form the opposite longitudinally extending wedge shaped portions 19 and 20. This last mentioned structure provides means for keying the envelope 50 I I, in the space 2|, formed between the slab sections l5 and I6, which will thus prevent the removal of the envelope after orice the slabs are poured and taken their initial set.

As before stated, the envelope encases the core,

. V-shaped sections, generally designated 22 and 23, which are connected with each other to form the core [0 having the walls 24 and 25. The elements 22 and 23 forming the core H] are locked to each other by means of the key l2.

The key l2 at predetermined intervals throughout the length of the joint, 'is passedthrough openings in the walls 24 and 25 of the elements 22 and 23 and into a position in which it is engaged by certain other elements to thus key the members 22 and 23 against separation. The key is further employed to provide a bond between the slab sections I5 and I6 and the elements of the joint structure, and will therefore, upon the linear movement of the slab sections I5 and i6, transmit this movement to the elements of the joint and thus assist to maintain the elements of the joint in a condition to properly seal the space between the slab sections.

In the present instance the members 22 and 23 are V-shaped in cross-section, and the op- Q posed wall of one of the elements, such as 23, is

formed at intervals of its length to provide spaces, designated 26, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 6. The edges of the walls are additionally formed at said spaces to provide the outwardly extending lugs 21. The key, generally designated I2, is arranged in one of the spaces 26, and the lips 21 are then bent outwardly into engagement with the key l2 to thereby hold the key in the space 26. The element 22 forming the upper portion of the core ID, has its edges formed at intervals of the length thereof to provide the outwardly extending lips 28-28. When the element 22 is placed upon the key l2, this will arrange the lips 28-28 to allow the lips 30 and 3| of the key to be bent into engagement with the respective lips 28-28, as shown in Fig. 4, which will thus hold the elements,,generally designated 22 and 23 of the core in proper relation to each other. I

The material of the key is formed with the notches 32-32, to provide means for receiving and engaging the portions 29 which define the length of the spaces 26 and thus these notches will assist in connecting the key with the elements 22 and 23. The opposite ends of the key, generally designated l2, are formed with apertures 33. The material of these keys at these apertures is formed to provide the lips 30 and 3| which are bent upon the lips 28-28 of the member 22. These apertures 33 are provided to permit the association of supporting stakes 34 with the structure, and in addition are provided to form means whereby a bond may be established between the key and the materialof the slab sections l5 and' Hi. This key is bent upon itself, as indicated at 35, to thus provide means permitting extension and retraction of the key and thus compensate for movement of the slab sections as hereinbefore referred to.

From the foregoing description of the structure it is believed evident that a joint is provided which when arranged upon the sub-grade of a roadway or the like to divide adjacent slab sections, will seal and compensate for the linear movement of the slab sections, the joint being formed of a plastic or bituminous material having a contour which causes the adjacent ends of-the slab sections to be formed so as to key the device to the slab sections in a manner to prevent its accidental removal from between said sections.

It is further believed evident that the plastic or bituminous material has means combined therewith for maintaining said material in its proper relation with the endsof the abutting slab sections and in which the material forms a protective coating for this last mentioned means.

It is still further evidenced that due to the particular cross-section of the core and its associated envelope, that when the abutting slabs move towards each other, and the joint or seal is caused thus to collapse, the materials of the envelope will not be extruded beyond the surface of the pavement, but will be compressed within and into the predetermined space within the walls of the core.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

- 20 1. An expansion joint adapted to be initially located between spaced slab sections prior to the forming thereof and comprising a pair of substantially V-shaped elements having spaced connected walls the opening of one of said elements 5 being arranged at the opening of the other ele-- ment to provide a tubular seal, a plastic envelope encasing said tubular seal, and a plurality of anchors connecting said elements comprising the seal to each other and to the adjacent ends of 30 the spaced slab sections, each of said anchors consisting of a plate bridging the space between the walls of the seal, the anchors being characterized by their ability to prevent the premature ment of the seal to maintain portions of the plastic envelope in direct engagement with the slab sections during both periodsof expansion or contraction or" the spaced slabs.

"collapse of the tubular seal and efiect the move- 35 2. A joint of the kind described comprised of 40 a tubular plastic sealing member and resilient means for maintaining saidplastic member in operative relation with adjacent ends of slab sections, said sealing member being of a dimension substantially equal to the thickness of the slab sections, and means for anchoring said resilient means direct to said slab sections, said anchoring means consisting of a member bridging the space between the walls of the tubular member and extending therebeyond into engagement with the respective slab sections.

3'. A joint of the kind described comprised of a tubular plastic member and resilient tubular means for maintaining said plastic member in operative relation with adjacent ends of slab 5 sections, and means for independently coupling said resilient means direct with said slab sections, said coupling means spanning the space between the walls of the resilient tubular means and extending into engagement with abutting taining the sides of said seal in engagement with the ends of said slab' sections, said anchoring means additionally providing a reinforcement for the walls of the seal to prevent thepremature collapse thereof during the setting of the joint and the pouring of the slab sections.

acaaace 5. In a device of the kind described the combination of a plastic member adapted to be located between spaced slab sections and to seal said space, resilient means anchored to said slab sections maintaining said plastic member in uninterrupted engageinent with said slab sections, said plastic member providing an envelope encasing said resilient means, and a member reinforcing said resilient means against premature collapse.

6. A joint providing a seal for sealing a space between adjacent ends of slab sections, said joint being comprised of a pair of elements connected with each other to form a tube, means associated therewith for connecting said elements with each other, said last mentioned means also connecting the pair of elements forming said joint with the adjacent ends of said slab sections, and said last mentioned means further reinforcing said pair of elements against premature collapse.

7. A joint of the kind described comprised of a pair of elements V-shaped in cross-sectlon,'the opening of one of said elements being arranged at the opening of the other element for connecting said elements with each other, said means including a member for connecting said tubular members with the adjacent ends of slab sections and reinforcing said tubular members against premature collapse, and a plastic cover enveloping said tubular member.

8. In a device of the kind described, the combinationof a tubular plastic body adapted to be located between spaced slab sections to provide a seal for the space between said sections, a tubular member maintaining said plastic body against premature collapse and in uninterrupted engagement with said slab sections, said plastic body providing an envelope for said tubular memher, and means extending from said tubular mem- 5 supported upon the subgrade of a roadway or. the like, said plastic body providing a seal for sealing adjacent spaced ends of slabs forming a pavement for the subgrade, resilient means enclosed within said plastic body engaging the in- 15 ner walls thereofland maintaining said plastic body in operative engagement with the ends of said slabs, and a member positioned within said plastic body reinforcing same against premature collapse.

10. A joint of the kind described comprised of a hollow member having means for connecting said member with adjacent spaced ends of slab sections, an envelope for said hollow member sealing the space between the adjacent ends of 25 the slab sections, said hollow member being comprised of connected elements V-shaped in crosssection with the opening of one of said elements facing in the direction of the opening of the other elements, and a coupling for locking said ele- 30 ments together, said coupling spanning the space between the walls of the v-shaped elements.

JAMES H. JACOBSON. 

